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Good Bones

Art + Design

Life on Weekends

21 September, 2015

Good Bones | Life on Weekends

Good Bones | Life on Weekends

It’s been a crazy and fun few days, and honestly a welcome break from some of the feelings I’ve been having. The third weekend in September is much loved because our downtown streets are home to the Arts in the Heart festival. It was extra lively and busy at the store, which we’re thankful for. ArtZilla set up on our front patio and artists painted on site the whole weekend, plus we ate our weight in delicious cuisine and browsed the seemingly endless booths of art. It was a solid good time. We bought a painting by Lorri Kelly and a small hanging pot, which, it goes without saying, I can’t wait to see in the new house.

The weekend ended with drinks and good conversation and finally crashing in bed with guilty pleasure television shows. My legs ache from walking more than usual on top of my regular runs and our temporary room is a neglected mess, but it’s worth it. This morning was quiet and calm, and now rain and thunder have brought a darkened beauty to the day. It’s oddly just what I need to get myself back into the swing of daily life.

Last night I was struck by how different our weekend was compared to the year before. I speak of it often, though only vaguely–one of those decidedly painful and difficult times that had us feeling a heavy burden and tension surrounding these few days in particular. It’s a strange memory to have–one that almost doesn’t seem real–and we’re relieved to be passed it but also glad for the humbling opportunities for relational growth that resulted. I feel a major freedom in that, and I’m grateful not to have felt anger, grief, and confusion this weekend but simply the honor and joy it was to witness a city come alive through art and fellowship.

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Transitions

18 September, 2015

Good Bones | Transitions

Good Bones | Transitions

The blog has become pretty image heavy lately. Again I’m having a hard time collecting my thoughts and gathering motivation to write. Rather than take a break I’ve told myself I need to post something and anything. It’s easy to use this space as a glorified Flickr rather than what I intended–a place to create and explore and grow by working through my thoughts.

I was talking with my niece and friend Ashley recently about the pressure we put on ourselves to create and post for public feedback. It seems disingenuous but we continue to behave this way. I’d have more to say if I allowed myself to relax and take my time.

The truth is, it’s a strange season in our lives. A displacement like ours–being in this in-between place with no real idea when it will end–is bound to cause some sadness yet I don’t think I felt prepared. I’m struggling to feel I have purpose, something I’ve always battled as a homemaker, and even more so during this transition period while we’re living with David’s mother. I admit I discourage easily and despair over not being in our own home, not having a daily routine, not having my own hideaway and place to be proud of and happy in. My rhythm is thrown way, way off.

I know having a home to clean every day does not define me. My pottery and art collections do not define me. Cooking meals for myself and my husband in our own kitchen doesn’t define me. How I express my creative self doesn’t even define me. But that doesn’t stop me from missing it–my home, the home and life I have made with David. That home is still here, in who we are and how we love each other, but I miss the space where we are free to fully express that love and grace towards one another, enjoying what we’ve built for the last 8 and a half years, together and on our own terms.

I don’t mean to sound ungrateful or overly concerned with being in a newly renovated house. That’s just not it. In the words of my sister-in-law Lara, “You are a very visual person, whose aesthetic is a natural extension of your self. Your home was filled with that aesthetic and now maybe a part of you seems missing.” But it’s also more than that. I haven’t felt like myself and it took me a few weeks to realize how isolated I’ve been. I drove through our neighborhood a few days ago and was struck by how deeply I longed to be back there. I’m homesick for downtown, our sweet community.

So this is where we are–feeling tired and run down during one of the busiest times of the year, yet in other ways one of the most stagnant. We’re seeking balance and getting through it together with God’s grace. I’m very thankful for the opportunity to see my sin of pride and the ways it manifests in impatience and fear.

This weekend is my favorite of the year–three days of arts and culture downtown–and I’m looking forward to reenergizing and refocusing with dear friends and family in the community that is our home, too.

Life

Right Now

24 January, 2015

Good Bones | Right Now

Good Bones | Right Now

There’s a lot of beauty in the strangeness and ruin of downtown. A hope shines through. It is ripe for progress.

Today feels alive with activity–the kind of day where you can’t believe how much you’ve already done by noon. I’m steadily checking things off my massive to-do list, hurrying here and there, pitching in at the store, planning projects and doing chores at home (taking a break to post this, of course). Honestly, it’s one of my favorite ways to spend a Saturday. That feeling of accomplishment at the end of everything is beyond rewarding. It’s a relief to have behind you things you may have been avoiding, small as they might be.

I feel as though our lives are slowly starting to normalize, that we are becoming ourselves again. Things have felt so uneasy during my recovery, put on hold almost, and I’m glad to begin to see the other side of it. There’s still a lot on our plates, but it seems simpler to manage. I’m determined to fit in a run today, my first in six weeks. I know that’s the moment when everything will feel right.

Life

Details

4 September, 2014

Good Bones | Details

Good Bones // DetailsGood Bones // DetailsGood Bones // DetailsGood Bones // DetailsGood Bones // DetailsGood Bones // DetailsGood Bones // DetailsGood Bones // DetailsGood Bones // DetailsGood Bones // Details

I had some old film lying around and decided to use it up recently. The photos are of nothing really, just little bits of downtown–patterns and scenery I liked. I’m not totally thrilled with the images (let’s be honest, I’m clearly out of practice) or the quality of the prints, but I am glad to have shot something other than digital for a change. My light meter was acting up (of course, blame the equipment), but hopefully that’ll be fixed once I replace the battery.

I have such fond memories of looking through my dad’s photos when I was a kid. I’d lie on the floor in my bedroom and endlessly flip through albums or hold slides up to the sunlight, marveling at how vibrant and real they seemed–somehow both ordinary and dreamlike at the same time. There’s a beauty to film, and to the art of patience, that can’t be replicated. I used my film camera a lot in high school and some of college and early marriage (I’ve got a large box of my own prints–memories worth saving–I’d like to put into albums or frame), but lately I’ve barely picked it up. I’m going to commit to using it more often. It’ll be good to preserve something and discipline myself to appreciate the slowness of real life.

This afternoon I’m headed to Durham, NC with my mother-in-law on a very last minute trip to visit her cousin. I’ve never been before so I’m excited to finally get the chance. David and I had plans to go to Kentucky and Cincinnati with his dad in a few weeks, but this has been a stressful, hectic, and unpredictable season for us so that’s been put on hold. It’ll be nice to get away for a few days anyway, even if my other half is staying behind. I’ll be packing a few rolls of film for sure.

Life

Brunch

11 August, 2014

Good Bones // Brunch

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Brunch at The Bee’s Knees is one of our favorite Sunday activities, and since David’s dad loves an excuse to celebrate (the house renovation has started!), we headed there after church this weekend to enjoy incredible food and great company. It was a lovely way to end the week.

Life

From the Weekend

5 August, 2014

Good Bones // From the Weekend

Good Bones // From the WeekendGood Bones // From the WeekendGood Bones // From the Weekend

After our plan to go to the drive-in on Saturday got ruined by impending rain, I was happy we could keep our date to listen to jazz at the Common with friends on Sunday (which I sadly have no pictures of). The weather was perfect and the light breeze made me so excited for fall temperatures and festivals. People like to complain about this city, but it has so much to offer. We drank wine, ate dessert (there really is nothing better than cobbler made with southern peaches), talked and had a wonderful time. I’m so glad to have such fine folks in our lives. We’ll definitely have to make it back for the last few Sundays of Candlelight Jazz.

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